Traffic sign stand



May 12, 193,1.

@QM/M Patented May l2, 1931 JOSEPH T. HOB/NI, F NEWARK, NEW JERSEY rss retains FICE:k -i

TRAFFIC sion STAND Appneation sied :rune 11,

This invention relates to portable stands for use'in the streets for supporting traffic signs, lanterns, or the like, or for indicating barriers or boundaries for tralic. Such stands are generally made with heavy bases of circular form so that they can, while not` offering an immovable obstacle to tralic, still be ruggedly supported and at the same time easily moved by rolling them on the circular edge of their bases. The stands have in general a circular base, a tubular upright stanchion secured in the'base, and a sign mounted on top of the upright. Heretotore the uprights have been screw threaded into thel base, but this means has proven quite inadequate, as the rough treatment the stand `gets soon breaks the upright at the point where 'it enters the base.

My invention relates to means for making 20 the jloint between the upright stanchion and the base more substantial, and it comprises a special construction of conical base socket and Ycone shaped wedges iitted therein, between which the upright is securely clamped the pipe and screw, threads with their at-y tendant weakening etl'ect are avoided. This yand Jfurther details of my improved street sign will appear from a detailed description of an embodiment of the invention as shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 isa front elevation of atrailic sign stand. y

Figure 2 is a side viewf'of the sign.` Figure 3 is a verticalaXial section through the base.

Figure l is a side view of a holding wedge.

' Figure 5' is a view looking up'under the` base.

i The base or standard 1 is-preferably made of an integral piece of metal and in the embodiment shown comprises a circular flange or tread 2 adapting it to be' rolled as a wheel when-the stand is tipped; an upwardly-pre-l sented conoidal body '3; and an. inverted frusto-conical socket d which depends with inthe hollow body 3` and is provided at the bottom with two oppositely-'arranged flanges 5 which iorm between them opposite radial slots 6. The bottom flanges 5 are provided In thisv way a firmer rgrip ismaintained on 192e.` serial 110.3704573, Y

and 4, each voi the wedge-*portions 8 is pro- 6o I vided with a radial slot of T-shaped cross* section for the reception-,of a bolt 10,' said bolts being alsoi arranged in the slots `6 between the flanges 5 at the bottom of socket so that when the nuts on said bolts are tightened up, the wedge-,portions 8 will be drawn into interlocking. engagement .with the stanchion 7 and socketl and thus serve to rigidly unite these parts in any position the stanchion may be adjusted'to in respect 7o to the base 1. Said T-slots comprise relatively broad uppervportions 12 extending entirely through the wedge portions for ac-V commodating the heads of the bolts andfrelativelynarrow lower portions 13 for the 75 shanks ofsaid bolts, the narrow portions 13 being closed at their inner ends to provide bearings 11 ywhich engage the central stanchion l. A flange 14 on the upper part of each of the wedges '8 provides an extend- 80 ed bearing surface against the stanchion.. The stanchion v7 atv its upper end ,has clamped to it a bifurcated arm l5 of a sign 16', the bifurcations beingV clamped to the stanchion 7 by bolts 17. As shown, I prefer 85` to make the sign with tapering flanges ,around its edge, as shown at 18, terminating in a ball v19 at the top which is used asa pivot in the palm of the hand 'when' lowering the sign on itsbase 1. At 2O are shown ring 90 vshaped ears for supporting lanterns, andat 21 is an orilicejvfor the passage of a rope when the sign is being used for a post fora Y' guard line. e f j l vlt will beiseenlth'at thestanchion maybe 95` an'ordinaiy piece of plain pipe without threads and that instead vof .being weakened where it passes into the base,A as would be the case if it were screw-threaded, itis actually reinforced and made stronger at this point. It will be also seen that, owing to the upper and lowei` contacts that the wedges make both with the pipe and with the socket, the former is held there rigidly in its vertical position.

I claim l. In a trailic sign stand, the combiii ation comprising a base plate having a central conical socket, a sign supporting stanchion locatedr centrally in said socket, and wedges in the socket holding the stancliion securely in its central position, said base and said wedges having flanges and bolts passing` through orifices in said iianges whereby the wedges may be drawn into the socket and grip the. stanchion.

2. lin a traliic sign stand, the combinar tion comprising a base plate having a cen.- tral conical socket, a sign supporting stanchion` located, centrally in said socket, and wedges in the socketA holding. the stancliion securely in its central position, said base having a slotted iange at the base of the socket and said wedges having slotted flanges at their lower` ends with bolts passf ing through the said. slots to form a means of drawing the wedges downward to. torni a, clamping grip for, the stanchioii.

3, In a traflic'siqn stand, the combination comprising a, base having a central.. tapered socket, a. sign. stanchion movablev through saidcentraltapered socket, a tapered wedge movable along said sign' `stanchion and adaptedtointerlock with said sign stancliion and tapered socketV in different relative positfions` of the former wit-h respect to the latter, and'mea-ns interengaging between said base and tapered wedge for drawing. said wedge intOy interlocking engagement with said sign stanchion and socket.

4. In a tratlic sign stand, the combination comprising a circular base, aniipwardly contracted conoidalfy extension,l a downwardlytapered conical socket depending within-said conoidall extention from the upper endthereof, a stanchion extending through said, socket, and a conical wedge for. locking said stanchionj to said socket, and an adjustableV connection. interacting between said conical wedge and thebottom end of; said socket for.

' tightening said conical wedge.

5. In a traiiic sign stand, the combination of a base provided with an upwardly-contracted extension and a` downwardly-coin tracted socket.4 depending from theV upper edge of said extension, a` stanchion having its lower end presented within said. socket,

l a wedge slidable along saidstanchion and adapted by its wedging action to. form an interlocking member between said stanchion and the inner wall. of said` socket, and, adjust-able. means interengaging between said wedge and socket for drawing the formerinto the latter.

6. In atrailic sign stand, the combination of a base having a centrally disposed raised portion provided with a downwardly-tapered socket, a stanchion having its lower Vend disposed within said tapered socket, a wedge movable into interlocking engagement with the inner wall of said tapered socket and the outer wall of. said. stanchion, and. means interacting between said wedge and said socket for tightening said wedge in its interlocking position.

7. Inv a` stand for traiiic signs, the combin nation with a sign-supporting stanchion, of a standard provided with a circular flange or treadI and having a downwardly-contract ed socket with a bottom wall provided with a. central opening tor permitting the axial adjustment of said stanchion,` wedge-portions having` their outerl walls slidably engaging the downwardly-contracted` inner wal-l ot said'socket and adaptedby the wedging4 action of said inner wall of thel socket to be clamped tosaid stanchion, and adjustable connections` between said wedgeportions andthe bottom wall 0f said socket for drawing said wedge-portions. downwardly into said, socket and into clamping engagement with said stanchionl in any pesi.- tion to which` it may be adjusted.

8. In a stand for traiiic signs, the combination with a sigii-supporting stanchion, of an integralhollow` shell comprisinga` circular flange or tread, an upwardly-presented.

conoidal body and` a dependingA inverted rustoconieal. socket having a bottom wall provided with a` central opening through which said stanchion is axially adjustable and with. radial slots extending away from said' central opening, frustoconicalr wedge portions provided, withV peripheral bearingl surfaces and adapted` tobe clamped to said stanchion by their wedging engagement with the. inner wall of said- 'rustoconical socket, said frustoconiealwedge portions being provided with. radial slots and boltseX- tending through thev first and, second-meinI tioned radial slots for drawing saidy wedge portions into clamping engagement with the stanchion. I

9. In a, stand for trathc signs, the-combination` with a sign-supporting stanchion, 4 of an integral hollow base comprising a circular Harige or, tread, an upwardly-presented conoidalv bodyv and. a depending inverted rustoconical socket provided at the bottom with. oppositely-arrangggedy transverse Vflanges adapted to slidably engage said stanchion and forming betweenA them oppositely ex,- tending. radial slots, and means for rigidly supporting said stanehion within said; in-

verted rustoconical: socket, saidA supportingmeans comprising two hollow semi-:trusteconical wedgepor-.tions liiovided-with axially-spaced bearing surfaces adapted to be clamped von to said stanchion and' with, axially and peripherally-spaced bearing bosses Vadapted to engage the inner Wall of said frustoconical socket, said 'rustoconicaly -Wedge portions being provided With `radial slots and bolts mounted in radial T- shaped slots and extending through the radial slots in said Wedge-portions and bottom Wall of said frustoconical socket. Y

` l0. In a traffic sign stand, the combination comprising a base, a stanchion, a socket in the base adapted to receive the stanchion, a clamping Wedge in the socket, and a member operating on said base against said clamping wedge to press the clamping Wedge against the stanchion to hold it securely in place;

1l. In a trafiic signal stand, the combination of a base, a stanchion, anadjustable part movable into and out of interlocking position with respect to said base and stanchion, and means engaging said base for adjusting said adjustable part.

12. In a traiiic signal stand, the combination of a base, a movable stanchion,prela tively adjustable parts adapted to form an interlock between said base and stanchion, and'means interengaging between said base and said relatively adjustable parts for adjusting'said parts relatively to each other for rigidly uniting said stanchion to said base. i

13. In a trailic signal stand, the combination of a base, an adjustable stanchion, adjustable wedges adapted to form a rigid interlock between said base and stanchion, and means for adjusting said wedges relatively to said base and stanchion for interlocking said wedges therewith. .Y

14. In a traiiic sign stand, the combination comprising a base having a tapered socket,

j the stanchion member.

a stanchion adjustable endwise with respect to the axis of said socket, a wedge movable into interlocking engagement with said stanchion and socket in different relativev positions of said stanchion with respect to said socket, and means interacting between said wedge and socket for tightening said wedge in its interlocking position.

l5. In a traiiic sign stand, the combination comprising a base member provided with a y socket, astanchion member adapted to be inserted into said socket, a clamping piece' in the socket, and means interacting between said clamping piece andv one of said members to press the clamping piece against Josnrn T, nonni. 

